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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-fSheetj, 2.

L. s. SCHMHTHBNNER.

CHBSSMAN.

No; 361,721. l Patented Apr. 26., 1887.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. s. SCHMITTHENNBR. GHESSMAN.

v N0.` 361,721. Patented Apr. 26,. 1887.

BYZQMQ ATTORNEYS EEEEEE S. Phoimihgnpher, Washington, D. C.

' man.

PATENT EETCE.

L UDWIG S. SCHMITTHENNER, OF DARMSTADT, GERMANY.

CH ESSMAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,721, dated April 26, 1887.

Application filed December 9, 1886. Serial No. 221,118. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG S. SCHMITT- HENNER,a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Darmstadt, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Chessmen, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in chessmen; and it consists in the features set forth in the following specification and claim and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in whichy Figures 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 are side elevations of chessmen containing my invention. Figs. 2, 5, 8, ll, and 14 are respectively vertical central sections of Figs. 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of a chess- Figs. 6, 9, 12, and 18 are inverted plan views of chessmen, the material covering the weight being removed. Fig. 15 is an inverted plan view of a chessman,the material covering the weight being partly displaced, exposing part of the weight. Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively a side elevation and a vertical central section of a modification.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter a indicates tbe body of the chessmen,having any suitable well-known or ornamental conliguration, and representing the usual gures, such as pawn, rook, knight, bishop, king, or queen.

Each chessman is provided with a foot, d, having a weight, c. The weight c rests in a suitable cavity or hollowin the foot d. Said weight consists of any suitable dense material-such, for example, as lead or iron. Said weight can be poured into the cavity in the foot din a molten condition and allowed to harden in the foot, whereby the weight will grip 0r bite into the foot and be retained sist of such material, for example, as cloth, leather, parchment, paper, and the like, and be suitably attached-as, for example, by means of adhesive materialso as to cover the weight c.

By making the weight c sufficiently heavy l the chessmen, if by accident or otherwise they I are knocked over, will be righted by the weight c, so as to occupy an upright position. Said chessmen are thus not liable to be knocked over by any jar, such as the moving of the chessboard or table on which they are placed. If any such chessman should be knocked onto the door, the weight will cause each such chessman to rest upright on the door at the place of falling, so that said chessman will not roll away and become lost.

The chessmen may be made of any suitable material, such as hard rubber, wood, paperpulp, or other well-known suitable substances.

In the modification shown in Fig. 17 the chessman is hollow or its body is hollow,where by the weight of the chessman is reduced, and the weight c can more readily right the chessrnan. A plug or cork, e, suitably inserted into the chessrnan prevents any part of the weight c from passing toward the upper part of the chessman.

To enable the weight c to readily right the chessmen, the foot d of each chessman is made of ovoid or egg-shaped resemblance, but with a flat bottom, as seen in the drawings.

The opening for insertion of the weight c is made in the flat under side of the foot d, and to this flat bottom is attached the soft covering b, that conceals the-weight and prevents it from scratching the chess-board.

I am aware that cuspidors, toy eggs, and what are known as Chinese mandarins7 have been weighted to render them self-righting, and I am also aware that chessmen have been weightedand cloth-covered at their bases to give them more stability; but such are not self-righting. These constructions therefore I disclaim.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A self-righting chessman provided with an ovoid weighted foot having a dat bottom and a soft covering attached to the bottom, to conceal the weight and prevent it from scratching the chess-board, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUDWIG S. SCHMITTHENNER.

Witnesses:

D. C. ScHMin-MONNARD, ALvnsiro S. HOGUE. 

